Baseball's Dan Pfau Remains Undefeated At GW With 11-6 Win Over CSU

Anthony Smith's Six RBI On Four Hits Improves GW To First Winning Record

ARLINGTON, VA - The Colonials (9-8) moved above .500 for the first time this year with an 11-6 victory over Cleveland State at Barcroft Park. Sophomore starter Dan Pfau (3-0) earned his ninth career victory for the Colonials and has a perfect 9-0 record in his collegiate career. The Colonials who are 6-0 when wearing their gold tops have now won seven of their eight home games this year. Anthony Smith again led the Colonials charge with an outstanding six RBI on four hits improving his hitting streak to six games.

Pfau pitched six and a third innings for GW in his fourth start. He allowed six runs, although only four were earned, on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Pfau remains unbeaten with the Colonials and owns the team's all-time winning percentage record.

Cleveland State crafted a run in the first inning against Dan Pfau when leadoff hitter Steven Chinn started the Vikings effort with double. He was bunted over to third on a sacrifice by Cory Rojeck. Chinn scored the first run of the game with a ground out to GW's third baseman. Pfau and the Colonials pitching staff would only allow CSU to score in one other inning. The Vikings however went ahead in the fourth when they combined for five runs three of which were earned. Doug Besozzi walked to start the inning and was moved to second on a single from Dominic Erney. James Waller reached on an error when he hit a ball sharply to the Colonials third baseman Ryan Roberson who had the ball in his webbing but dropped it before trying to throw him out at first. GW suffered from another error on the next play when center fielder Matt Owens booted a single up the middle from Ben Smith who advanced to second on the play while Waller scored from second as an unearned run. Marc Sikora hit a sacrifice fly to score Skelley and Chinn singled to score Smith for the fifth and final run of the inning.

The Colonials out-hit CSU 11-9 and scored in five innings, regaining the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Smith was the leading Colonials batsman and continued his hitting streak and RBI assault. He drove in Anthony Raglani and Ryan Roberson on a two-out double. Smith then hit a two-run single in the fourth for his fourth RBI of the game scoring Geoff Milsom and Raglani after he had doubled.

After relinquishing the lead in the top of the fourth, GW went ahead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Matt Owens walked to lead off the inning and after an out Milsom was also issued a free pass to first. The next four Colonials drove in runs top put GW back up for good. Roberson knocked in Owens on a single slapped through the left side. Smith then turned on a ball for his second double of the game and team-tying fifth of the year which scored Raglani to tie the game at six. Brad Rosenblat grounded out but put GW up for good when he scored Roberson. Jeff Fertitta added an RBI on a double and is now 10th all-time at GW with 121 RBI in his career.

The Colonials were not yet done scoring and added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Roberson completed his three hit day with a double that drove in Raglani. Smith then had his fourth straight hit to drive in Roberson for his sixth RBI of the day. Owens scored on a ground out by Roberson that gave him his third RBI of the game.

After two walks with one out, Josh Wilkie entered the game as a relief pitcher for the first time this year to help Pfau out of a jam in the seventh. After giving up a harmless single, Wilkie struck out the next two batters with the bases loaded to get out of trouble. He then struck out two more in the eighth retiring four of the five outs he pitched on strikeouts. Nick Koken pitched a scoreless and hitless ninth striking out one.

The Colonials will play just one mid-week game this week when they play host to James Madison at Barcroft Park on Wednesday at 2:30 pm. This is a rematch of a March 3rd battle that ended in a JMU walk-off win after the Colonials had lead as late as the top of the ninth inning. The Colonials will then remain at home for a weekend series against Marist with a double header on Saturday starting at noon and a nine-inning game on Sunday also with a noon time start.